Orlando is blessed with Florida sunshine and thousands of ways to make you smile! From the world-famous theme parks and outdoor adventure, to exquisite dining and shopping - there are few if any other destinations that have such a complete portfolio to offer the visitor.

The sheer amount of choice that caters to all ages is one of the main reasons that Orlando is such a success for multi-generational trips.

There are more ways to dine, more places to shop and more adventure than ever this winter!! Ever changing and ever growing – family friendly Orlando has endless possibilities that will thrill every member of your family!

With seven of the top theme parks all in one sunny location, Orlando is the theme park capital of the world. There are new rides and innovations at all of the theme parks and you can easily make the Parks the central focus of you trip. Daring thrill rides, immersive rides where your imagination takes flight, water parks with over-the-top pools, rides, and water slides and face-to-face animal encounters all await you.

Equally you can fill your vacation days to capacity and never set foot in a theme park. And you don’t need to go to one of Orlando’s water parks in order to experience some of that special Orlando H20 fun. Enjoy the fabulous year-round weather at hotels and resorts hotels that have spared no expense creating tranquil watery oases with everything from sandy bottomed lazy rivers to dramatic waterfalls. And you’re just a short drive from some of America’s very best beaches.

The “adult side” of Orlando offers fabulous golf and spa opportunities to satisfy the most discerning traveler and the shopping extends from luxury brands to phenomenal bargains. Dining in Orlando has become a major feature of the destination – again it is that sheer range of choice that brings Orlando to the top of the class. There are over 5000 restaurants in Orlando – so, for example, you can have breakfast with a Disney character or Sharmu the Killer Whale, lunch at a local neighbourhood eatery – and dinner at a celebrity-chef anchored, four- or five-diamond restaurant.

Orlando hosts more than 450 year-round events, so there is no shortage of options to keep you busy! If you are looking for nightlife and entertainment – Orlando has that aplenty. From ultra-hip bars and high-energy dance clubs to laid-back pubs and multi-venue entertainment complexes, Orlando offers a multitude of lively hot spots. Popular entertainment includes the Cirque du Soleil, which has a permanent show at Downtown Disney, and the Blue Man Group show at Universal CityWalk.

Orlando also has its unexpected side. Orlando has been developing its history, culture and performing arts such that it presents today’s tourists a truly rounded experience. From historic sites to renowned museums and from annual festivals to professional dance, music and theatre performances – Orlando’s cultural districts will surprise you with the depth of their offerings. If you have visited before there is so much today that is new and different that you will not be disappointed if you come again.

All the theme parks in Orlando continue to add new excitement for their visitors – each and every park is a completely immersive and extraordinary experience that every visitor should try at least once. This year has been no exception in adding new thrills and here are just some of the more recent additions:

Walt Disney World Resort has completed a multiyear project that has doubled the size of Fantasyland with the opening of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. This is a family-friendly coaster which takes guests on a wild journey through the mine “where a million diamonds shine.”

Magic Kingdom Park also recently debuted an all-new daytime parade called the “Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade”, featuring characters and music from memorable Disney films.

Universal Orlando Resort opened TRANSFORMERS: The Ride – 3D in summer 2013. The attraction combines larger-than-life TRANSFORMERS characters with life-like HD CGI media, state-of-the-art 3-D technology and amazing special effects to place riders right in the middle of an epic battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons. The world’s first Simpsons themed area, Springfield, has also opened at Universal Studios Florida, with all-new attractions and restaurants, including Moe’s Tavern where guests can order Duff Beer.

This year Universal Orlando Resort built on the enormous popularity of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, by bringing to life experiences and places found in and around London in the Harry Potter books and films. Diagon Alley and ‘London’ is located within Universal Studios Florida, which is adjacent to Universal’s Islands of Adventure, the current location for Hogwarts and Hogsmeade.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley features shops, the Leaky Cauldron eatery and a new, multi-dimensional thrill ride, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. Guests are able to travel between London’s King’s Cross Station and Hogsmeade Station aboard the Hogwarts Express.

SeaWorld Orlando opened Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin - the biggest expansion in its company history - in May 2013. The realm includes a state-of-the-art ride that takes guests on an exciting journey through the dangers and wondrous beauty of the Antarctic as they follow and mimic a young penguin’s adventures. Guests explore a penguin colony in an area that envelops them in cool extremes.

In 2014 SeaWorld Orlando debuted an all-new Shamu show called Shamu’s Celebration: Light Up the Night. And this year Aquatica – SeaWorld’s Waterpark - opened Orlando’s tallest and steepest free-fall waterslide. With slides nearly 80 feet tall (24 meters), Ihu’s Breakway Falls is the only multi-drop tower slide of its kind in Orlando.

Wet ‘n Wild Orlando has also created a new, six story-tall waterslide this year. The Aqua Drag Racer propels guests through four lanes of head-to-head competition at fifteen feet per-second before splashing them across the finish line.

Within the last year LEGOLAND Florida Resort opened The World of Chima, an expansion based on the Cartoon Network animated TV series and LEGO product line. The World of Chima follows animal warriors on magical journeys and centers around an interactive water ride, Quest for Chi. And it also opened its newest expansion, DUPLO Valley in May, bringing the LEGO DUPLO line of preschool building toys to life with new farm-themed attractions, an air-conditioned indoor play area and a water play area all geared to toddlers ages 2 to 5.

With Orlando’s unique spectrum of attractions and activities there is sure to be something for all the family. With so much choice amongst the mix of legendary theme parks, water parks, spectacular museums, world-class entertainment and blockbuster rides and attractions - they say that it would take about 67 days to visit all of the entertaining offerings in Orlando.

Here is a short overview of some of Orlando’s most popular activities.

Golf

Orlando offers over 176 Golf Courses – there is that unbelievable amount of choice again. Visitors can expect beautifully maintained courses, year round play and stunning course designs by famed architects such as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Robert Trent Jones and Tom Watson. And for enthusiasts looking to improve their game, Orlando has 23 famed golf academies.

Shopping

One of the top reported activities for visitors to Orlando is shopping. Within a 20-minute radius of the heart of Orlando’s attractions visitors will find 12 versatile shopping malls and outlet centres. No other destination in the U.S. offers fashionistas the world’s most sought-after brands and outlet options in such a compact shopping district. Shoppers will also find major department stores along with numerous trendy, independently owned boutiques, theme park souvenir shops, museum stores, art galleries and antique shops.

And the shopping on offer keeps growing as the Malls continue to add new stores. In the past year alone:

The Mall at Millenia opened a new wave of internationally-recognized retailers including Prada, YSL and Swiss watchmakers Hublot, Omega and Breitling.

Artegon Marketplace Orlando on International Drive will house Florida’s largest daily indoor artisan marketplace with more than 160 studio spaces featuring unique art, one-of-a-kind boutiques, handcrafted items and diverse food offerings from some of Central Florida’s finest craftspeople.

Spas

Everyone deserves to be pampered – especially on vacation – and Orlando has that covered. Whether it’s for a couple of hours or for a full-day’s treatment, guests can relax at any of the area’s more than 20 spectacular destination spas, including the 24,000 sq ft Waldorf Astoria Spa, Indonesian inspired Mandara Spa, The Ritz-Carlton Spa and Senses, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Kids can even enjoy the experience at one of multiple resorts with spa menus for children. From mini manicures and men’s sport facials to invigorating body wraps and exotic treatments, Orlando’s spas offer the ultimate respite.

Adventure

While Orlando may be best known for theme parks, it’s also filled with unique outdoor adventures that create unforgettable vacation experiences. Thanks to the unique Florida weather and terrain you can do everything from skydiving and horseback riding to surfing and race car driving, Here is just a small sample:

Aircraft aficionados can step back in time onboard a vintage biplane or fighter plane

Eco-safaris are available via horseback, zipline or in a swamp buggy

The Cypress Canopy Cycle, which consists of reclining bicycles suspended from a network of high-tension cables, takes you over a beautiful ecosystem in a 4,700-acre (1,902-hectare) property.

Guided canoe or kayak tours to observe the native species such as alligators, bald eagles, osprey and barred owls in their natural habitat.

Rent a Motorcycle for the day, week or month with the option to join up with one of the area’s friendly group rides

Get behind the wheel in an all-terrain vehicles, Hummer, Jeep Dune Buggy or high-speed rally car for a few hours of off-road fun. There is also Stock car racing plus the Junior Ride-Along program gives six to 13-year-olds the opportunity to ride shotgun with a professional driving instructor. And you can even drive supercars, including Ferrari, Lamborghini, Audi and Porsche vehicles.

Bird-watchers have nearly 20 stops to explore in Central Florida on the Great Florida Birding Trail, a 2,000-mile (3,200-kilometre) trail designed to conserve and enhance Florida bird habitats

Anglers discover a sea of choices when it comes to fishing the more than 2,000 named lakes, rivers and springs in the greater Orlando area. Large-mouth bass, monster red fish and spotted sea trout are just a few of the creatures waiting to take the bait.

And paddleboarding , boating, airboat rides, and swamp tours are other ways to get out on the water.

Want to know more about the destination? Check out Chris' Travel Notes!

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